Famous Pakistani social activist Sabeen Mahmud shot dead

Karachi, April 25: Well known Pakistani human rights activist-Sabeen Mahmud-was shot dead after she was returning home from her restaurant where she had hosted a talk on the politics of Balochistan province.

She claimed that police were fighting a separatist insurgency there. The talk 'Unsilencing Balochistan' was likely to be held at a university in Lahore, but the authorities did not give permission for that.

Mahmud and other activists like her believed that security forces were carrying out extra-judicial killings of separatists in the province. It is claimed that many people have disappeared and later were found dead. The security forces, however, deny any such killings.

Separatists have waged a war against the government claiming that their province's mineral and gas resources are unfairly exploited by Pakistan's richer provinces.

Mahmud's mother was also there with her when she was attacked by two gunmen. While her mother was wounded, Mahmud was declared brought dead at a city hospital.

Tariq Dharejo said,"Two gunmen on a motorcycle shot her. She was taken to hospital where she was pronounced dead." Police further added that they were investigating the case.